Weekly Film Listings April 28- May 4

fast five -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4/Caprice) In the latest Fast & Furious installment, those sort-of good guys once again end up on the wrong side of the law as they finds themselves trapped between a vicious drug lord and an implacable federal agent. Starring Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. Starts Fri.

prom -(Odeon/SilverCity) A group of teens get ready for prom night. Starts Fri.

hoodwinked too! hood vs. evil -(Capitol/SilverCity/Caprice) This kid-friendly animation is a wacky take-off of classic fairy tales, as Red Riding Hood and the Wolf are called on to investigate the disappearance of Hansel and Gretel. Starts Fri.

★★★½ megamind -(Caprice) This hipster spoof of superhero movies is a witty and inventive piece of animation that is great for kids and parents alike. Note: this special fundraiser for children’s cancer is scheduled for 11 am on Saturday.

Continuing

★½ arthur -(Odeon/Caprice) Here’s a disappointingly over-stated and ill-conceived remake of the delightful 1981 comedy about a boozy, immature playboy. Despite the star power of Russell Brand and the great Helen Mirren, only a few of the jokes have real zing.

★★½ jane eyre -(Odeon) The classic Charlotte Brontë romance about a young governess and a house with terrible secrets gets a handsome-looking but rather dull remake that stars the wonderful Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) and the rather wooden Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds).

★½ scream 4 -(Capitol) Wes Craven reboots his own deconstructive slasher series, but the plotting is preposterous and all that “meta” movie babble stopped being clever years ago. Starring Scream survivors Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette. Note: moves here from the Odeon on Friday.

hop -(SilverCity) In this fluffy bit of animated fun for the whole family the teenage son of the Easter Bunny heads to Hollywood to join a rock ‘n’ roll band — only to encounter some unexpected adventures.

your highness -(SilverCity) This tongue-in-cheek medieval action flick has been reviled even by the pushover critics. Starring James Franco, Natalie Portman, Toby Jones, and Zooey Deschanel.

★★★½ hanna -(Capitol/SilverCity/Uni 4) A 16-year-old girl, trained as an assassin by her CIA rogue agent of a father, is on the run across North Africa and Europe as ruthless intelligence agents try to track her down. Starring Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana and a very persuasive Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones). The plot cheats a bit, but this thriller couched in terms of a fairy tale is engaging and very well directed by Joe Wright.

★★½ limitless -(Caprice) Bradley Cooper plays an unmotivated writer who discovers a new drug that gives him super-human mental powers, in a thriller with aspects of a headtrip movie. Co-starring Robert De Niro and Australia’s Abbie Cornish (Bright Star).

★★★½ the lincoln lawyer -(Capitol) This tricky crime thriller stars Matthew McConaughey as an unconventional lawyer who gets in over his head while representing a wealthy client accused of murder. Based on the novel by Michael Connelly. McConaughey brings his natural gifts — roguish charm overlaid with dollops of sleaze and smug self-regard — in what could be a career-saving role. The great supporting cast includes Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy, John Leguizamo and Ryan Phillippe.

★★★¼ rio -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4) This very colourful animated romp stars a domesticated macaw that heads off on a wild jaunt to Rio de Janeiro to find avian amour. Featuring the vocal talents of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway.

african cats -(SilverCity) This offering from Disney heads to the African savannah for some great footage of lions and cheetahs as a surprisingly mellow Samuel L. Jackson narrates a documentary about how two separate cat families train their young.

soul surfer -(Capitol) A teenage surfer loses her arm to a shark attack and somehow summons the courage to ride the waves again. Based on a true-life tale. Note: moves here from SilverCity on Friday.

★★★ source code -(Odeon/SilverCity) Jake Gyllenhaal stars in a sci-fi-ish thriller about a soldier who is teleported into the body of a stranger in order to find the terrorist due to blow up a train in eight minutes. The Matrix-meets-Groundhog-Day premise is more clever than the movie itself.

★★¾ water for elephants -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4) Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon star in a crowd-pleasing adaptation of the bestselling novel about an illicit love affair set in the exotic world of a travelling circus during the Depression. Glamorous but sentimental and clichéd and reeking with phoniness, this romantic melodrama benefits hugely from a stirring performance by Rosie the elephant.

Imax

★★★½ ARABIA -(1:00 5:00) The past and the present merge in this exploration of the rich history and present-day exoticism and complexity of Saudi Arabia.

★★★★ born to be wild -(10am, noon, 2:00, 4:00, 7:00) Take a remarkable safari as this documentary takes you up close and personal with the people who nurture orphaned baby elephants and orangutans en route to re-releasing them into the wild. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. This is a great film!

journey into amazing caves -(11am, 3:00, 6:00, 8:00)

Screenings

Movie Monday – Screening ★★★★ The King’s Speech. Long live this royal Oscar champ, the much-loved and lauded historical drama about King George VI and his struggle to overcome a crippling stammer and lead his country into war against Germany. 6:30pm MONDAY in the 1900-block Fort. By donation. 595-FLIC. moviemonday.ca

Cinecenta

Cinecenta at UVic screens its films in the Student Union Building. Tickets are available 40 minutes prior to showtime. Info: 721-8365. cinecenta.com.

★★★½ winds of heaven -(Wed., April 27: 7:15 only) This biopic of renowned painter Emily Carr is a sophisticated and thoughtful portrait of a visionary artist, endearing eccentric, and great champion of aboriginal culture.

★★★½ cat on a hot tin roof -(Thurs., April 28: 7:00, 9:10) Elizabeth Taylor struts her sultry stuff in a highly entertaining adaptation of the play by Tennessee Williams. With Paul Newman and Burl Ives.

waste land -(Fri.-Sat., April 29-30: 3:00, 7:00, 9:00) Set in the world’s largest garbage dump, this extraordinary documentary is a stirring tribute to both the human spirit and the transformative power of art.

★★★½ tangled -(Sat.-Sun., April 30-May 1: 1:00 matinee) Here’s a fractured fairy tale telling a different, more rambunctious version of the classic Rapunzel story, complete with nifty characters and some gorgeous 3-D effects. With the voices of Mandy Moore and Ron Perlman.

★★★★ of gods and men -(Sun., May 1: 3:00, 7:00, 9:25 & Mon.-Sat., May 2-7: 7:00, 9:25) Based on events during an upsurge of Islamist violence in 1996 Algeria, this elegant and meditative drama centres on eight French monks whose religious beliefs are challenged by their harrowing predicament. This award winner is a must-see for film fans. “A luminous tale of faith and heroism.” –Time Magazine